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Generic vs Personal - What's the difference?

generic | personal |

In grammar terms the difference between generic and personal

is that generic is a term that specifies neither male nor female while personal is denoting a person.

As adjectives the difference between generic and personal

is that generic is very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific while personal is pertaining to human beings as distinct from things.

As nouns the difference between generic and personal

is that generic is a product sold under a generic name while personal is an advertisement by which individuals attempt to meet others with similar interests.

generic

Alternative forms

* generick

Adjective

(en adjective)
  • Very comprehensive; pertaining or appropriate to large classes or groups as opposed to specific.
  • :* "...the essence is that such self-describing poets describe what is in them, but not peculiar to them, – what is generic , not what is special and individual." — Walter Bagehot (1826–1877)
  • Lacking in precision, often in an evasive fashion; vague; imprecise.
  • (of a product or drug) Not having a brand name.
  • (biology, not comparable) Of or relating to a taxonomic genus.
  • (grammar) Specifying neither masculine nor feminine; epicene.
  • Words like salesperson and firefighter are generic .
  • (computing) (Of program code) Written so as to operate on any data type, the type required being passed as a parameter.
  • (geometry, of a point) Having coordinates that are algebraically independent over the base field.
  • Synonyms

    * (comprehensive) general * (lacking a brand) unbranded

    Antonyms

    * (comprehensive) specific, proprietary * (lacking a brand) non-generic, proprietary, branded

    Derived terms

    * genericity * genericness

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • A product sold under a generic name
  • A wine that is a blend of several wines, or made from a blend of several grape varieties
  • (grammar) A term that specifies neither male nor female.
  • * 1998 , Jacqueline A. Dienemann, Nursing administration: managing patient care
  • personal

    English

    (Webster 1913)

    Alternative forms

    * personall (obsolete)

    Adjective

    (en adjective)
  • Pertaining to human beings as distinct from things.
  • Of or pertaining to a particular person; relating to, or affecting, an individual, or each of many individuals; peculiar or proper to private concerns; not public or general
  • Pertaining to the external or bodily appearance; corporeal.
  • * {{quote-book, year=1922, author=(Ben Travers)
  • , chapter=5, title= A Cuckoo in the Nest , passage=The most rapid and most seductive transition in all human nature is that which attends the palliation of a ravenous appetite.
  • Done in person; without the intervention of another.
  • * White
  • This immediate and personal speaking of God Almighty to Abraham, Job and Moses,
  • Relating to an individual, his character, conduct, motives, or private affairs, in an invidious and offensive manner; as, personal reflections or remarks.
  • (label) Denoting a person.
  • Usage notes

    Not to be confused with .

    Synonyms

    * (l)

    Derived terms

    * personal capital * personal fiduciary * personal lubricant * personal trainer

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • An advertisement by which individuals attempt to meet others with similar interests.
  • A movable; a chattel.
  • Statistics

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    Anagrams

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